Long-term oxygen therapy for 24 hours per day did not reduce the risk of hospitalization or death within 1 year compared with 15-hour therapy in patients with severe hypoxemia, according to a recent study.

In a multicenter randomized controlled trial, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers evaluated the effects of long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) administered for either 24 hours or 15 hours per day in patients with severe hypoxemia. The study aimed to assess whether 24-hour LTOT would reduce the risk of hospitalization or death within 1 year compared with 15-hour therapy.

Between May 2018 and April 2022, 241 patients who were starting LTOT for chronic severe hypoxemia were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to receive either 24-hour oxygen therapy (n = 117) or 15-hour therapy (n = 124). 

After 12 months, the median daily oxygen use reported was 24 hours in the 24-hour group and 15 hours in the 15-hour group. The composite outcome of all-cause hospitalization or death occurred at similar rates in both groups, with event rates of 124.7 and 124.5 per 100 person-years, respectively (hazard ratio = 0.99, 95% confidence interval = 0.72–1.36, P = .007 for nonsuperiority). There were no statistically significant differences observed in the rates of hospitalization for any cause, mortality, or adverse events between the two groups.

Adverse events included eight incidents in the 24-hour group and nine in the 15-hour group, consisting of burn injuries, fall-related injuries, and nosebleeds.

The findings indicated no significant advantage of 24-hour therapy over 15-hour therapy for these outcomes.

Full disclosures can be found in the published study.